Hello,

So I'm just wanting peoples feedback on that old chestnut of staying original or changing things slightly.

I have a 56 Oval that requires a re-spray inside and out and the original colour is Coral Red.

Now I don't think it's the best colour VW came up with but I do however think that from the same year was Stratos Silver. A much nicer colour in my opinion.

But the question is, who would pay top dollar for which paint colour. One is the OE paint and the other is period correct but not the OE paint for that vehicle.

Ta muchly

It is your car, so do as you please.
Having said that, and because you asked.......
The Strato Silver is an original colour for a German built car. It was not offered here as an option......Nor was Corel Red. Australia had Manly Tan. Either of these colours should not de-value the car.
If it was going to be painted a non factory colour like purple, yellow , pink etc. then the resale value will be severley affected.

Are you planning to sell the car anytime soon?

If not go with what you want.. stratos silver is a cool colour, personally I don't like coral red so much. To me colour can always be changed so it's not such a big deal, in terms of value I would think once the original paint has been removed as long as you stick to a vw colour its not really going to have much effect.

Cool. A few more opinions b4 I make my mind up cos this resto will be sold once complete and having a general consensus helps point me in the right direction.

Interesting about Stratos and Coral not being available in Oz. I looked up the colour chart for 56 Beetles on Wolfsburg West and the faded red on the vehicle at present pointed me to Coral Red as it's the only Red VW used in 56. Well, at least from the WW colour charts.

Keep the opinions coming peps

WW does not show Aussie colours. It shows colours for German built cars.
Your car would have came to Australia as a CKD kit, then assembled and painted here. If you think it is Coral Red, then it is more than likely Many Tan.
Pretty sure Phil will chime in here, as I think he has the Australian list of colours used.

The list of Australian paint colours is here, together with an explanation of why Australian VWs are different from German/US VWs:

http://www.clubvw.org.au/vwpaint 

Are you restoriing the car to sell it? or are you keeping it for yourself? If you are only restoring it to sell, it will be worth more to collectors if it stays its original colour. If it's for you, paint it whatever colour you like, it's your car. My 2c.

I thought stratos silver was a American only 54 Colour and 55-56 was polar silver? Stratos is very blue and goes silver in the sun, I painted a quarter of my 54 this Colour before changing my mind. Dino on here has just painted his 54 stratos.

I personally prefer polar, more silver with a hint of dirtiness mushroom Colour in it.
Here is mine before it was stripped bac for the new Colour that I am finally happy with. Yes it's another silver.

Good luck with your choice.

T54
http://s45.photobucket.com/user/turbo54/media/IMG_0880.jpg.html 

as it's not a keeper then hence this thread for people thoughts.

I know that Stratos was used in USA and Europe but not here but have also found the Aussies to not be so concerned about originality.

Hence asking the question to see what Aussie VeeDubbers prefer.

The Manly Tan is such a dirty looking colour and the Stratos is so clean and bright.

Stratos is very dark in the shade. Almost like a Royal metallic blue. You should sample it before you choose.

Have you seen a car in polar?

T54

Polar? Um, nope. I'd buy some sample pots n spray up some sample panels before going the whole hog

Anyone else have an opinion on the colour choice?

Hello,

So I'm just wanting peoples feedback on that old chestnut of staying original or changing things slightly.

I have a 56 Oval that requires a re-spray inside and out and the original colour is Manly Tan.

Now I don't think it's the best colour VW came up with but I do however think that from the same year was Stratos Silver. A much nicer colour in my opinion.

But the question is, who would pay top dollar for which paint colour. One is the OE paint and the other is period correct but not the OE paint for that vehicle.

Ta muchly

I personally think the quality of the resto is more important than the colour

why two postson the same topic

I'm very anal when it comes to making any type of repair so the resto will be of high standard.

As I can do all the work myself and the purchase price was good I'm looking to restore and sell on. Hence asking peoples thoughts on the colour.

As many opinions as possible eh.

Traps for young players like me 25 years ago. Bought 3 Mk 3 Ford Zepyrs. Toiled for 2 years to make them into one beaut fully restored car. The mistake- wrong colour.

The original colour was a very rare turquiose with white roof. Not a colour I liked. So search for a nice blue. It looked the goods but it wasnt original and Zephyr nuts knew it. The blue colour was a shde darker than Holdens 1983 "Formula Blue" so every time it was displayed "here comes the Holden Zephyr". Jibes werent the issue it was the fact that it was the only thing on the car that took it away from its originality. Had I stayed with turquoise it would have been the only one in Australia.

In my view any colour that has been prepared and painted looks ace new, even the array of mustards VW's had in the 70's.

I wont continue and talk about the other Zephyr I had that was painted a torana colour - Mandarin Red. Yuk! I'd stay original.

If it was a trike beetle it wouldnt matter LOL

Quote:

Originally posted by tweety As many opinions as possible eh. Traps for young players like me 25 years ago. Bought 3 Mk 3 Ford Zepyrs. Toiled for 2 years to make them into one beaut fully restored car. The mistake- wrong colour. The original colour was a very rare turquiose with white roof. Not a colour I liked. So search for a nice blue. It looked the goods but it wasnt original and Zephyr nuts knew it. The blue colour was a shde darker than Holdens 1983 "Formula Blue" so every time it was displayed "here comes the Holden Zephyr". Jibes werent the issue it was the fact that it was the only thing on the car that took it away from its originality. Had I stayed with turquoise it would have been the only one in Australia. In my view any colour that has been prepared and painted looks ace new, even the array of mustards VW's had in the 70's. I wont continue and talk about the other Zephyr I had that was painted a torana colour - Mandarin Red. Yuk! I'd stay original. If it was a trike beetle it wouldnt matter LOL

For me, being totally for resale, I'd go the og colour the car was. Tastes change.
As for the Oz colours looking bad, I think a lot of that is just due to the samples or digital reproductions. When the paint is clean/polished, any colour looks ace IMO.

Quote:

Originally posted by psimitar Well, I'll get a sample of Manly Tan too and see how it looks. i know taste is subjective but to me a period correct colour is all that matters

Quote:

Originally posted by amazeer Quote: Originally posted by psimitar Well, I'll get a sample of Manly Tan too and see how it looks. i know taste is subjective but to me a period correct colour is all that matters Im suffering from the same conundrum with my 56 which I believe was manly tan also. I've had the car a long time and my plans have changed a few times. It would be good if someone painted sheets of steel in each of the colours and then sliced them up unto real world paint chips. I'd buy that. I reckon if 6 of us went to different painters we would end up with 6 different Manly Tans. Its too hard to get a good read on colours from the computer screen. Pictures of the same car are different colours in different lights/different cameras, and who is to say if my monitor is representing the image as it should anyway. There is a US spec green that I'm partial to, but on Samba there is debate on which green is which and I'm still none the wiser. My current view is that I will just go for a 50s style colour.

I've found the chip books are totally necessary these days, to confirm the colours as over the years the formula's have been modified so many times as the pigments and paint bases have changed. I have had customers that have been to 4 different paint suppliers and asked for the one colour. The variety of colours was amazing, all from the one formula!!! I have a Spies Hecker book that covers many of the Aussie colours, but I'm sorry, I won't loan the book out. it's too rare and irreplaceable. Anyone is welcome to come and look at it tho.